Be attentive to the presence of Christ in our midst

 

I used to be a fervent fan of NFL football.  Even though my San Francisco 49er’s are expected to win the Super Bowl next Sunday, I’m still not that interested.  My ennui with the NFL began about 5 years ago due to the non-stop coverage leading up to the big game.  As the entire professional football season culminates toward the Super Bowl game, the final week is filled with extravagance and excess in every area.  I realize that pomp and pageantry are part of human nature, but c’mon!

All of the hype beginning this week raised some questions in my mind.  Why is it so hard to recognize Christ in our midst today?  Why do we so frequently turn our backs on the Holy One, neglecting and ignoring the sacred?  We might make excuses that we’re busy people, or the issues are political ones, or they’re too overwhelming.  Why is it that we sometimes put a price tag on the value of human life?  For many, even the sacraments of the Church, where Christ promised to be present in these sacraments, have become routine.  For others, they’re simply not valued.  Have we as a society become blind to the real presence of Christ in our world?

The simple recognition of Christ is a tremendous gift to society.  In St. Mark’s gospel (Mark 6:53-56) we hear that when Jesus and His disciples got out of the boat in Gennesaret, the crowds recognized Him.  Before they scurried off to bring Him the sick, they first recognized Him.  Mark tells us that those who after recognizing Him, brought the sick to Jesus on mats and they were healed.  Jesus changed the citizens of Gennesaret on that day.  It started with a group who recognized Him.  How would that day have unfolded if they didn’t recognize Him?  When we neglect the ability to recognize Christ, we prioritize our own needs and desires and are more prone to selfishness, apathy and a lack of concern for others.

We can get pretty charged up over an event like a Superbowl to which the media will bring excessive hype, placing it right in front of us.  It’s harder and even takes spiritual discipline to see the presence of Christ in the sacraments, in the marginalized, and in those who are suffering.  I think my—our—challenge is to be attentive to the presence of Christ, especially in the midst of human suffering.  I know some days I’m better at this than others.  And on the days when I am less blind, it changes the way that I pray.